New Southbound Policy Portal

MOFA response to inclusion of supportive comments regarding Taiwan in a joint statement following Australia-UK Ministerial Consultations

From Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, MOFA 2024-03-22

Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles hosted UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Cameron and Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps for the Australia-UK Ministerial Consultations (AUKMIN) on March 22.

Following the meeting, they issued a joint statement underscoring the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and encouraging the peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues without the threat or use of force or coercion. Australia and the United Kingdom also committed to supporting Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations and reiterated their will to continue deepening relations with Taiwan in the economic, scientific, trade, technological, and cultural fields.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs deeply appreciates and welcomes this joint, public expression of support for Taiwan by Australia and the United Kingdom for the second consecutive year.

As members of the AUKUS trilateral security partnership and like-minded democratic partners of Taiwan, Australia and the United Kingdom are major stabilizing forces for peace in the Indo-Pacific region. Their statement again demonstrates that security across the Taiwan Strait is closely intertwined with peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and across the globe.

Building on solid existing foundations, the government of Taiwan will further engage in close cooperation with like-minded countries to safeguard peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait; expand international space for Taiwan; defend shared values of democracy and freedom, as well as the rules-based international order; and jointly advance peace, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.